Cutting-edge videoconferencing has arrived

New room-based videoconferencing facilities at Monash deliver high-definition visual and audio communications and improved usability for staff.

Signalling a significant advancement in the range of collaboration tools at Monash, staff now have access to the latest technology in integrated and converged videoconference systems - providing online visual and auditory communications between Monash locations both on and offshore.

Delivered by the Videoconferencing Project team headed up by Project Manager, Pen Goward, the highly-used video conference suites on the Caulfield, Clayton and Gippsland campuses have been upgraded to high definition picture and sound quality, and enhanced functionality to improve video call connections.

The James McNeill and Sir George Lush rooms on the Clayton campus have also undergone major technological upgrades to enable integrated and unified communication combined with ease-of-use.

“The project came about in response to increased demand for videoconference calls in highly-used meeting rooms”, Project Manager, Pen Goward, explained.

“There was also a desire to make the technology as user-friendly as possible.”

Usability testing has shown most users are able to navigate through the touch panel menus without needing training.

Project Support Officer, Aaron Lee, said that the introduction of intuitive, touch panel consoles have been a great benefit for staff.

“A consolidated touch panel has removed the need for different remote controls for the different devices in operation,” he said.

“In the past, a staff member may have been required to operate three or four remote controls.”

“We’ve had really positive feedback about the touch panel. Staff say it is clear and they like being able to navigate through the menus in a straight-forward way”.

Explaining how the camera works, Aaron said that the chair of the meeting has the option to use either a manual or automatic setting on the touch panel.

“The chair uses the touch panel to direct the camera to face a particular seat at the table. Alternatively, voice recognition can be activated. Using the four speakers distributed around the room, the system can detect the loudest speaker and the camera with automatically swivel to that person.”

The hard work of Pen and Aaron has been recently recognised by Monash being granted hosting rights for 2009’s first of the highly successful AARNet Roadshows.

“A ‘show-and-tell’ section on the program showcased our new meeting rooms to participants from the university IT and audio-visual communities – placing Monash as the leaders in the sector of the implementation and use of the latest technology”, she said.

Monash encourages staff to consider videoconferencing as a way to improve communication, maintain relationships, and make inclusive decisions in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

“Academics in research and education have been using a range of videoconferencing technologies for some time and the benefits are well-documented”, Pen said.

More immediately, staff can also use the Monash videoconferencing facilities to save time and money in the current financial climate, and – importantly – support Monash's commitment to sustainability through the reduction of carbon emissions resulting from car and air travel.

For more information, or to make a booking, please visit Videoconferencing at Monash.

Participants at the AARNet Roadshow held at Monash (Clayton campus), Monday, 25 May 2009